I can honestly say I never fully appreciated the genius of Machiavelli, or the savagery of the Borgias, until now.'- Ann Fortier, author of Juliet The Malice of Fortune is stunning, terrifying, and utterly mesmerizing. 'A true masterpiece… Michael Ennis has poured the knowledge and wisdom of many lifetimes into the exquisite form of a mystery so dark, so labyrinthine. And every thrilling step is based on historical fact.

All three know their quarry is someone who holds enormous power, both to tear Italy apart, and destroy each of their most beloved dreams. Their foil and partner is the exquisite Damiata, scholar and courtesan. Here, Niccolo Machiavelli, the great 'scientist' of human behaviour becomes, in effect, the first criminal profiler, while his contemporary and sometime colleague, the erratic genius Leonardo da Vinci, brings his observational powers to the increasingly desperate hunt for a brilliant, terrifying serial murderer. This brilliant novel is an epic tale exploring the backdrop of the most controversial work of the Italian Renaissance, The Prince. Based on a real historical mystery, and involving serial murder and a gruesome cat and mouse game at the highest levels of the Church- it was the era of the infamous Borgias- A Most Beautiful Deception is a delicious treat for fans of Umberto Eco, Sarah Dunant, and Elizabeth Kostova. A sweeping, intense historical thriller starring two of the great minds of Renaissance Italy: Niccolo Machiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci.

Byzantium michael ennis